2019 HCPCS Level II Changes Released

2019 HCPCS Level II changes are comprehensive this year, and the code set includes several new modifiers as well as codes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released them November 6.

HCPCS General Talley

The 374 changes are broken down this way:

• 228  new codes and modifiers
• 49 discontinued codes and modifiers
• 95 changed codes and modifiers
• 1 code with a coverage changes

The changes include several new hearing aid codes, Medicaid screening and documentation codes, and many new injectable drugs.  New G codes include telehealth, evaluation and management, and quality measures.
New C codes for injections outnumber new codes for neuro and MRI services. Nine new modifiers include oxygen, telehealth, and therapy codes.
As promised in the OPPS final rule, 27 C codes are deleted, as are five G codes relating to brain imaging and procedures and nursing conference. Only two J codes are deleted, but seven Q drug codes are eliminated. Some hearing codes are dismissed to make way for the new ones.
Changes include single A, C, E, and K codes. G codes wholly revamped as 74 see description changes. Four J, four Q, and four V codes are changed.
More information will be available in the 2019 HCPCS Level II Expert, due out in December.
 
 
 

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Brad Ericson

Director of Publishing at AAPC

Brad Ericson, MPC, CPC, COSC, is a seasoned healthcare writer and editor.He directed publishing at AAPC for nearly 12 years and worked at Ingenix for 13 years and Aetna Health Plans prior to that. He has been writing and publishing about healthcare since 1979. He received his Bachelor's in Journalism from Idaho State University and his Master's of Professional Communication degree from Westminster College of Salt Lake City.

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